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Geography of Gabon

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Geography of Gabon
République Gabonaise


ContinentAfrica
RegionCentral Africa
Coordinates1°00′N 11°45′E / 1.000°N 11.750°E / 1.000; 11.750
AreaRanked 77th
 • Total267,667 km2 (103,347 sq mi)
 • Land96.3%
 • Water3.7%
Coastline885 km (550 mi)
Highest pointMont Bengoué, 1070 m (not Mont Iboundji as claimed by some authorities)
Lowest pointAtlantic Ocean, 0 m
Longest riverOgooué River
ClimateTropical monsoon ('Am'), Tropical savanna ('Aw'); always hot, humid
Terrainnarrow coastal plain; hilly interior; savanna in east and south
Natural resourcesPetroleum, natural gas, diamond, niobium, manganese, uranium, gold, timber, iron ore, hydropower
Environmental issuesdeforestation, poaching
Gabon map of Köppen climate classification.
Satellite image of Gabon

Gabon is a country in Central Africa, lying along the Atlantic Ocean, just south of the Bight of Biafra.

Area and borders

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Area
  • Total: 267,668 km²
    • country rank in the world: 76th/77th
  • Land: 257,670 km²
  • Water: 10,000 km²
Area comparative
  • Australia comparative: approximately ⁠1/6⁠ larger than Victoria
  • Canada comparative: approximately ⁠2/3⁠ the size of Newfoundland and Labrador
  • United Kingdom comparative: approximately ⁠1/10⁠ larger than the United Kingdom
  • United States comparative: slightly smaller than Colorado
  • EU comparative: approximately ⁠1/10⁠ smaller than Italy

Gabon has a total of 3,261 km of international boundaries. It borders Equatorial Guinea (335 km) and Cameroon (349 km) to the north and the Republic of the Congo (2,567 km) to the east and south. Gabon lies on the equator.

Maritime claims
  • Territorial sea: 12 nmi (22 km)
  • Contiguous zone: 24 nmi (44 km)
  • Exclusive economic zone: 200 nmi (370 km)

Terrain

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Land Use (2012)
• Arable land 1.26%
• Permanent crops 0.66%
• Other 98.08%
Share of forest area in total land area, top countries (2021). Gabon has the fourth highest percentage of forest cover in the world.

Narrow coastal plain with patches of Central African mangroves; hilly interior; savanna in east and south. A recent global remote sensing analysis suggested that there were 420 km2 of tidal flats in Gabon, making it the 50th ranked country in terms of tidal flat area.[1]

  • Irrigated land: 44.5 km2 (2003)
  • Total renewable water resources: 164 km3 (2011)

Environment

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International agreements:

Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling

Climate

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The equatorial location of Gabon means that it has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) and a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), with the temperature being hot year-round and humid, although the Benguela Current can moderate temperatures.

Climate data for Libreville (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.5
(85.1) 		30.0
(86.0) 		30.2
(86.4) 		30.1
(86.2) 		29.4
(84.9) 		27.6
(81.7) 		26.4
(79.5) 		26.8
(80.2) 		27.5
(81.5) 		28.0
(82.4) 		28.4
(83.1) 		29.0
(84.2) 		28.6
(83.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.8
(80.2) 		27.0
(80.6) 		27.1
(80.8) 		26.6
(79.9) 		26.7
(80.1) 		25.4
(77.7) 		24.3
(75.7) 		24.3
(75.7) 		25.4
(77.7) 		25.7
(78.3) 		25.9
(78.6) 		26.2
(79.2) 		25.9
(78.6)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 24.1
(75.4) 		24.0
(75.2) 		23.9
(75.0) 		23.1
(73.6) 		24.0
(75.2) 		23.2
(73.8) 		22.1
(71.8) 		21.8
(71.2) 		23.2
(73.8) 		23.4
(74.1) 		23.4
(74.1) 		23.4
(74.1) 		23.3
(73.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 250.3
(9.85) 		243.1
(9.57) 		363.2
(14.30) 		339.0
(13.35) 		247.3
(9.74) 		54.1
(2.13) 		6.6
(0.26) 		13.7
(0.54) 		104.0
(4.09) 		427.2
(16.82) 		490.0
(19.29) 		303.2
(11.94) 		2,841.7
(111.88)
Average rainy days 17.9 14.8 19.5 19.2 16.0 3.7 1.7 4.9 14.5 25.0 22.6 17.6 177.4
Average relative humidity (%) 86 84 84 84 84 81 81 81 84 87 87 86 84
Mean monthly sunshine hours 175.2 176.8 176.9 176.8 159.5 130.6 119.2 90.4 95.9 112.9 134.6 167.8 1,716.6
Source: NOAA[2]
Climate data for Port-Gentil (1961–1990, extremes 1950–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 32.6
(90.7) 		38.0
(100.4) 		34.6
(94.3) 		33.7
(92.7) 		33.2
(91.8) 		33.2
(91.8) 		30.8
(87.4) 		33.1
(91.6) 		33.3
(91.9) 		33.0
(91.4) 		34.0
(93.2) 		35.0
(95.0) 		38.0
(100.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.5
(85.1) 		30.2
(86.4) 		30.3
(86.5) 		30.0
(86.0) 		29.0
(84.2) 		26.7
(80.1) 		25.9
(78.6) 		27.4
(81.3) 		27.7
(81.9) 		28.3
(82.9) 		28.6
(83.5) 		29.0
(84.2) 		28.5
(83.3)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26.9
(80.4) 		27.3
(81.1) 		27.3
(81.1) 		27.1
(80.8) 		26.6
(79.9) 		24.4
(75.9) 		23.5
(74.3) 		24.7
(76.5) 		25.4
(77.7) 		25.9
(78.6) 		26.1
(79.0) 		26.5
(79.7) 		26.0
(78.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 24.2
(75.6) 		24.4
(75.9) 		24.3
(75.7) 		24.2
(75.6) 		24.1
(75.4) 		22.0
(71.6) 		21.1
(70.0) 		21.9
(71.4) 		23.0
(73.4) 		23.5
(74.3) 		23.5
(74.3) 		24.0
(75.2) 		23.3
(73.9)
Record low °C (°F) 17.6
(63.7) 		19.4
(66.9) 		19.5
(67.1) 		18.0
(64.4) 		19.0
(66.2) 		16.4
(61.5) 		16.0
(60.8) 		13.2
(55.8) 		18.2
(64.8) 		19.5
(67.1) 		15.8
(60.4) 		18.2
(64.8) 		13.2
(55.8)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 247.8
(9.76) 		177.8
(7.00) 		266.8
(10.50) 		299.3
(11.78) 		150.6
(5.93) 		11.5
(0.45) 		3.4
(0.13) 		5.0
(0.20) 		31.8
(1.25) 		179.9
(7.08) 		352.2
(13.87) 		227.1
(8.94) 		1,953.2
(76.90)
Average precipitation days 14.8 12.7 16.4 15.5 10.2 0.9 0.5 3.4 9.0 17.4 19.6 13.9 134.3
Average relative humidity (%) 84 84 83 84 85 84 83 82 82 84 86 84 84
Mean monthly sunshine hours 150.4 160.8 154.5 151.5 147.8 156.3 163.1 135.3 125.7 116.1 115.1 147.2 1,723.8
Source 1: NOAA[3]
Source 2: Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)[4]
Climate data for Lambaréné (1961–1990)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 31.5
(88.7) 		32.2
(90.0) 		32.3
(90.1) 		32.5
(90.5) 		31.3
(88.3) 		28.9
(84.0) 		27.9
(82.2) 		28.4
(83.1) 		30.0
(86.0) 		31.0
(87.8) 		30.8
(87.4) 		30.9
(87.6) 		30.6
(87.1)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.2
(81.0) 		27.6
(81.7) 		27.6
(81.7) 		27.8
(82.0) 		27.2
(81.0) 		25.3
(77.5) 		23.9
(75.0) 		24.7
(76.5) 		26.1
(79.0) 		26.9
(80.4) 		26.9
(80.4) 		27.1
(80.8) 		26.5
(79.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 22.9
(73.2) 		22.9
(73.2) 		22.8
(73.0) 		23.1
(73.6) 		23.1
(73.6) 		21.7
(71.1) 		19.9
(67.8) 		20.9
(69.6) 		22.2
(72.0) 		22.8
(73.0) 		23.0
(73.4) 		23.2
(73.8) 		22.4
(72.3)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 175.3
(6.90) 		145.2
(5.72) 		253.8
(9.99) 		212.8
(8.38) 		162.2
(6.39) 		20.9
(0.82) 		3.2
(0.13) 		6.9
(0.27) 		71.0
(2.80) 		347.7
(13.69) 		393.9
(15.51) 		172.0
(6.77) 		1,968.9
(77.52)
Average precipitation days 12.1 10.7 15.0 14.1 13.8 2.9 2.1 5.1 9.6 21.9 20.8 12.5 140.6
Average relative humidity (%) 83 81 81 81 83 84 82 81 80 81 83 84 82
Mean monthly sunshine hours 142.9 145.2 145.1 143.1 123.9 74.2 70.6 53.4 55.9 70.9 117.1 129.4 1,271.7
Source: NOAA[5]
Climate data for Makokou (1961–1990, extremes 1949–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 34.0
(93.2) 		41.5
(106.7) 		37.0
(98.6) 		39.5
(103.1) 		41.1
(106.0) 		37.3
(99.1) 		32.5
(90.5) 		33.0
(91.4) 		35.4
(95.7) 		37.2
(99.0) 		36.0
(96.8) 		33.5
(92.3) 		41.5
(106.7)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 29.2
(84.6) 		30.1
(86.2) 		30.5
(86.9) 		30.5
(86.9) 		29.8
(85.6) 		27.7
(81.9) 		25.8
(78.4) 		26.6
(79.9) 		28.7
(83.7) 		29.2
(84.6) 		28.7
(83.7) 		27.6
(81.7) 		28.7
(83.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 24.4
(75.9) 		24.9
(76.8) 		25.2
(77.4) 		25.3
(77.5) 		24.8
(76.6) 		23.4
(74.1) 		22.2
(72.0) 		22.5
(72.5) 		24.0
(75.2) 		24.4
(75.9) 		24.1
(75.4) 		23.5
(74.3) 		24.1
(75.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 19.5
(67.1) 		19.7
(67.5) 		19.8
(67.6) 		20.0
(68.0) 		19.8
(67.6) 		19.0
(66.2) 		18.6
(65.5) 		18.4
(65.1) 		19.2
(66.6) 		19.5
(67.1) 		19.5
(67.1) 		19.3
(66.7) 		19.4
(66.9)
Record low °C (°F) 15.9
(60.6) 		15.0
(59.0) 		16.3
(61.3) 		16.6
(61.9) 		16.8
(62.2) 		14.2
(57.6) 		11.5
(52.7) 		13.0
(55.4) 		13.5
(56.3) 		15.0
(59.0) 		17.0
(62.6) 		15.2
(59.4) 		11.5
(52.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 88.1
(3.47) 		106.9
(4.21) 		190.0
(7.48) 		206.7
(8.14) 		187.7
(7.39) 		54.1
(2.13) 		9.0
(0.35) 		29.3
(1.15) 		142.9
(5.63) 		297.3
(11.70) 		225.7
(8.89) 		103.3
(4.07) 		1,641
(64.61)
Average precipitation days 7.3 8.9 13.7 14.7 15.4 6.5 2.6 3.6 11.2 20.9 17.9 8.8 131.5
Average relative humidity (%) 82 79 79 79 80 83 85 83 80 80 81 83 81
Mean monthly sunshine hours 131.6 137.4 158.2 160.5 150.4 101.5 60.9 58.1 95.5 134.1 132.3 122.8 1,443.3
Source 1: NOAA[6]
Source 2: Meteo Climat (record highs and lows)[7]

Climate change

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Gabon is highly vulnerable to climate change due to its dense coastal population, economic hubs along the shore, and dependence on rain-fed agriculture.[8] Rising sea levels threaten to erode the coastline and contaminate freshwater sources with saltwater. The country is already experiencing more frequent and severe extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and storms, which damage infrastructure, displace communities, and disrupt food security and livelihoods.[9]

To adapt, Gabon prioritises protecting its coastal areas, as well as its fishing, agriculture, and forestry industries.[8] Gabon's vast forests act as a net carbon sink.[10][11] It is recognized as a global leader in climate action and is widely considered the most carbon-positive country in the world, due to its strong conservation efforts.[9] However, Gabon’s economy remains heavily dependent on oil and other natural resources, leaving it exposed to global market shifts and climate-related risks. In 2023, the country accounted for just over 0.04% of global greenhouse gas emissions (24.7 million tonnes). Gabon has pledged to stay carbon neutral beyond 2050 and, with adequate support, aims to maintain net carbon removals of 100 million tons CO₂ equivalent per year beyond that date.[12] It also seeks to expand its renewable energy sector.[13]

Extreme points

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Topography of Gabon
Gabon's cities, towns and villages

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Murray, N.J.; Phinn, S.R.; DeWitt, M.; Ferrari, R.; Johnston, R.; Lyons, M.B.; Clinton, N.; Thau, D.; Fuller, R.A. (2019). "The global distribution and trajectory of tidal flats". Nature. 565 (7738): 222–225. doi:10.1038/s41586-018-0805-8. PMID 30568300. S2CID 56481043.
  2. ^ "Libreville Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
  3. ^ "Port-Gentil Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  4. ^ "Station Port Gentil" (in French). Meteo Climat. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
  5. ^ "Lambarn (Lambaréné) Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  6. ^ "Makokou Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  7. ^ "Station Makokou" (in French). Meteo Climat. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  8. ^ a b World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal. "Gabon". climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  9. ^ a b Othering & Belonging Institute. "Gabon Case Study". belonging.berkeley.edu. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  10. ^ UNDP Biofin. "Gabon". BIOFIN. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  11. ^ UNFCCC (5 August 2024). Record of the facilitative sharing of views at the sixtieth session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation: Gabon (PDF).
  12. ^ Climate Watch. "Gabon". www.climatewatchdata.org. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  13. ^ "National Climate Plan (Plan Climat) - Climate Change Laws of the World". climate-laws.org. Retrieved 2025-03-17.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.

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